Truro City 0 Chelmsford City 1

CITY'S lack of a cutting edge in front of goal saw their FA Trophy adventure end with this first round replay defeat at Treyew Road on Tuesday evening.

A fourth minute goal by Chelmsford skipper David Rainford was enough to condemn City to defeat and earn the Essex side a home tie against Conference club Crawley Town in the new year.

Much as City huffed and puffed against the Conference South club in truth they rarely looked like forcing an equaliser despite dominating the second half.

Not for the first time this season City's lack of physical strength was exposed as the bigger Chelmsford side outmuscled them on too many occasions.

It is a problem that must soon be addressed by whoever succeeds Sean McCarthy as manager.

What proved to be the game's only goal came when Rainford stole in unmarked at the far post to head home Matthew Lock's deep free-kick from the left.

Despite the 300 plus mile coach trip from Essex, Chelmsford looked the fresher side against a jaded looking Truro who should have wrapped up the tie in Saturday's first meeting.

It was virtually all the visitors in the opening half hour with influential midfielder John Martin first having an effort cleared off the line by Lee Hodges and then being denied by a smart near post save from Truro keeper Martin Rice.

Big Chelmsford defender Ben Martin came close to making it 2-0 with almost a repeat of Rainford's goal but he was just unable to get his head to another teasing free-kick by Lock.

The only downside for the Clarets was a worrying first half incident after 33 minutes which saw defender Michael Haswell taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious following an accidental collision with the home side's Les Afful, whose knee caught Haswell's jaw.

The Chelmsford player lay prone on the pitch before medical help quickly arrived and after a 12 minute delay he was taken by ambulance to nearby Treliske Hospital where he was released later.

The injury to Haswell seemed to adversely affect the visitors and when the game restarted City started to create some chances with substitute Stewart Yetton heading wide from a cross by Andy Watkins, while Chelmsford keeper Ashley Harrison produced a fine point black save to deny Truro skipper Jake Ash an equaliser.

After the interval Chelmsford were just happy to sit back and soak up some intense pressure from the home side, but in truth Harrison was never really tested.

Truro were restricted to half chances with Martin Watts blasting wide, while substitute Arran Pugh's header back across goal was just off target.

Pugh's sliding tackle on Steve Ward then produced a melee which saw the big home defender booked.

Truro did force a series of corners in a frantic finish but the goal that would have taken the tie into extra-time eluded them as Chelmsford held firm with the minimum of fuss to complete a highly professional victory.